Ease into the New Year: Welcoming 2023 with New Words, New Projects (Same Me)

Here we are, two weeks into the new year. How are you feeling?

Have you chosen a word for your year? Are you setting intentions?

life, art classes, inspirationAnne ButeraJanuary 14, 2023word of the year, 2023 word of the year, easing into the new year, new year, welcoming the new year, skillshare classes, Skillshare teacher, skillshare, Skillshare Class, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, block printing, lino printing, lino cuts Comments

Why Skillshare is Great and How to Get the Most Out of Your Membership

I’ve been teaching on Skillshare for over 6 years. My first class came out in July of 2016.

Today I have 27 classes on the platform.

inspiration, creativity, art classesAnne ButeraNovember 12, 2022skillshare, Skillshare teacher, skillshare classes, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, what is skillshare, how does skillshare work, what is skillshare and how does it work, why is skillshare great, why you need a Skillshare membership, how to get the most out of your skillshare membership, Skillshare membership Comments

A Love Letter to Blogging, or Why Blogs are More Relevant than Ever

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and if you’ve been around a while you know I love it. Not for the commercial aspects (though I’m a fan of both chocolate and flowers) but because the idea of a day devoted to LOVE makes me happy.

Pursuing Curiosity: Using Art Books for Inspiration and Self-Care

When I was 16, a newly-minted driver’s license in my wallet, where did I go on my first solo drive?

books, inspiration, lifeAnne ButeraFebruary 19, 2021books, inspiration, Inspiration Deck, Skillshare classes, self-care, self care, joy, about me Comments

Why I Love Valentine's Day Plus an Invitation to Creative Self-Care

I love Valentine’s Day. It’s probably not cool to admit this, but I do.

Summer Adventures in Your Botanical Sketchbook: a New Online Class

Last Friday I mentioned I was working on a new online class.

It was my focus for most of July, never far from my thoughts even when I wasn’t working on it.

When Your Word for the Year is "Do"

Back in December I chose “DO” as my word for the year. Lately I’ve been thinking about that choice. Wondering if it’s a bit ironic. Wondering how I feel about it now. Wondering if I should choose another word for the rest of the year.

Now

Right now I don’t have the energy or the brain space to write the post I wanted to for today. So I’ll just check in with you. See how you’re doing. Tell you I’m doing fine. Send some words of encouragement your way.

Around Here Lately: Living a Holistically Creative Life

Back in January I wrote a list of intentions for the year. First in my journal. Then in my sketchbook. And again on a separate piece of paper that I hung in my studio. The very first intention on the list: “Live a holistically creative life”.

creativity, fabric, blogging, joy, life, seasons, houseplantsAnne ButeraFebruary 14, 2020blogging, blogging is not dead, creating community, creative projects, carving out time for creativity, creativity, affirming your creativity, valentine's day, intentions, holistic creativity, sewing, sewing projects, handmade clothing, inspiration, Butterick 6024, crochet, crochet garments, crochet shawl, Kathryn Dawn, 3 Button Textured Cardigan, South Bay Shawlette, Ravelry, Pinterest, crochet projects, seeds, seed starting, garden planning, ordering seeds, winter, skillshare, Skillshare classes, sketchbook class on Skillshare, winter sketchbook, Explore Winter in Your Botanical Sketchbook, bald eagles, nature, beauty, beauty in nature, Spoonflower, spoonflower, Spoonflower contest, spoonflower fabric, Spoonflower Design Challenge, spoonflower fabric designer, spoonflower wallpaper, watercolor, watercolor painting, poinsettia, watercolor poinsettia, botanical art, botanical watercolor, houseplants, houseplant portraits, what's happening in my studio, joy, do, word of the year, creative energy Comments

What is Skillshare and How Does it Work? (And Introducing a New Class)

I just released a new class on Skillshare. My 20th class on the platform. It’s a little mind-boggling to think I’ve created that many classes.

I first started teaching on Skillshare three and a half years ago. I was already a member and had taken some classes on the platform, but had never thought of teaching there. Then they contacted me and invited me to teach.

Planning Your Year, a Resource Round-Up (and Some Honest Thoughts)

We’re already more than half-way into January. How have things been going for you so far?

2019 Year in Review (& Thoughts About a Decade)

Another year has drawn to a close. Another decade, too. On January 1, 2009 I wrote in my journal: “2010. Wow. Seems so futuristic.” And here we are in 2020, even more futuristic-sounding.

But I don’t want to jump into 2020 without spending some time considering 2019 first.

life, creativity, studio, sewing, paintings, gratitude, joy, artAnne ButeraJanuary 3, 2020word of the year, year in review, 2019, 2020 Calendars, 2020 desk calendars, art, painting, goals, intentions, 2020, welcoming the new year, growth, Grow, GROW, greyhounds, retired racing greyhounds, challenges, life, life challenges, watercolor paintings, a year of paintings, a year of watercolor paintings, joy, handmade joy exchange, failure, being unafraid to fail, learning from our failures, art dreams, art by Anne Butera, artist, art exhibit, Viroqua Wisconsin, Viva Gallery in Viroqua Wisconsin, Rooted Spoon, Rooted Spoon Kitchen Table, Rooted Spoon Culinary Viroqua Wisconsin, Viroqua Healing Arts Center, McIntosh Memorial Library, embroidery, sewing, spoonflower garment sewing, fabric design, Spoonflower, studio, art studio, sketchbooks, sketchbook practice, Sketchbooks, Dana Barbieri, collaboration, collaborative sketchbook, artist collaboration, yoga, yoga mats, Youtube, skillshare, Skillshare, sketchbook class on Skillshare, Skillshare classes, Skillshare teacher, teaching on Skillshare, Anne Butera's Skillshare classes, gouache, creative journey, creative journeys, garden, gardening, garden joy, looking back, looking forward, dreams, don't give up on your dreams, dreaming big, creative dreams, big dreams, moving from dreaming to doing, living your dream, making our creative dreams real, making your creative dreams real, going for your creative dreams, grow, intention, inner critic, Sonya Philip, Yoga With Adriene Comments

Celebrating Autumn

It feels strange to think it’s November. These days tumble past faster and faster. Weeks pass. Months pass. Seasons pass.

And now it’s November.

Two months left of the year.

Calendars are Here! (And a Pep Talk)

Back in 2011 I had a dream to create a calendar with my art.* Two years later I was finally able to do it. Every year since then I’ve designed a calendar with new paintings. It’s one of my favorite projects.

I think I say it every year, but this calendar is my favorite!

calendars, life, artAnne ButeraOctober 18, 20192020 Calendars, calendars, desk calendars, 2020 desk calendars, Anne Butera, Anne Butera's Botanical Watercolor Calendars, art journey, creative journey, inspiration, using Photoshop, learning Photoshop, dreaming big, big dreams, art dreams, creative dreams, determination, stubbornness, hard work, creative work is hard, Cottages and Bungalows Magazine, creative development, looking back, celebrating success, my development as an artist, my story, botanical illustration, botanical watercolor, business, creative business, business sense, art business, creative pep talk, encouragement, creative encouragement, words of encouragement, art practice, working hard, designing a calendar, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, teaching on Skillshare Comments

growing inspiration: violas

In my first Growing Inspiration post I wrote about nasturtiums. If there’s a flower I’ve drawn and painted more than the nasturtium, it might be the viola.

They always have a place in my garden.

notes from the studio